The Liberty Cap has long been a symbol of freedom. On rare occasions it was incorporated into the inlay schemes of some finer examples of Federal furniture.

Rare and Outstanding Federal Inlaid and Figured Mahogany Tall Case Clock highlighted by a swans-neck pediment retaining its original carved and gilded “lower” rosettes above a pierced scrollboard centered by a “liberty cap on a pole” inlay, fan inlaid door and base, original straight bracket feet and retaining an outstanding old surface.

Height: 96.25"

Case made by Matthew Egerton, New Brunswick, New Jersey, circa 1788–1802.

Literature: The Magazine Antiques, January 1980, page 143; The Magazine Antiques, October 1997, page 409; and C. L. Prickett’s 1998 catalogue, page 21.

Note: Of the five known Egerton cases of this type (having inlay, straight bracket feet, and punch-work scrollboards) this one is clearly the finest example, blending a fine compliment of fan and line inlays and outstanding proportions. The inlaid “liberty cap on a pole” adds a great deal of historical significance to this already rare and outstanding case.